The Dharmajarinee Witthaya at the Ratchaburi branch of the Nun's Institute of Thailand
This school was founded in 1990 by a group of Buddhist nuns who built the first Convent School there to enable girls from poor families to continue their studies. As the State does not provide free secondary education for girls in Thailand, when Khun Mae Prathin, the Buddhist Head Nun, asked Mudita to help fund the first convent boarding school in the country, in summer of 1992, Mudita readily accepted and Mudita Trust began financing the girls, all from poor families, who may well have found themselves becoming child prostitutes through no fault of their own.
The girls live and are cared for at the convent, studying to complete their secondary education up to the age of 16 and to progress to higher education if they so wish. While at the centre they are taught the 5 basic subjects needed for further education at college: English, Thai, Maths, Science and Buddhism. They also learn to cook, grow vegetables, care for pets, tend the garden and flowers, together with sewing and many handicrafts, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to excel - if not academically, then in other ways, thus increasing their self-worth and employment opportunities. Some of their produce and crafts are sold in the village and some of the craft are brought to the U.K. to be sold at the festivals.
Self-Access Learning Centre
In 1995, the Mudita Trust appointed an experienced, voluntary English Teacher who, with funds from the Trust, set up a Self-Access Learning Centre for English, to enable the girls to study on their own. This is still growing and a great benefit to all. Further voluntary teachers followed and will continue to be appointed in future.
